Yorkshire businesses are losing the personal touch, it is claimed,
Only 15% of workers in the region prefer to meet face-to-face with colleagues, clients and suppliers while almost half choose to keep in touch with clients and colleagues via email, according to a new survey.
A further 31% would rather conduct business by phone.
The figures come from the latest Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey that canvasses the opinions of owners and managers of UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) on a range of topical issues.
The research further revealed that two in five employers in Yorkshire believe that face-to-face communication is becoming less important in the modern workplace – with the majority claiming that other methods of correspondence, such as telephone and email are equally effective and keep costs down.
Lee Hayes. regional sales director of Close Brothers Invoice Finance in Yorkshire, said: “As technology continues to evolve, the different ways to communicate appear almost endless. However, while it may seem quicker and easier to send an email or make a call, the value of face-to-face communication should not be forgotten.
“Business meetings help to build stronger and more meaningful relationships, showing your clients or colleagues that they are indeed worth your time and effort.
“However, there is a case for utilising modern technology to help make your workforce more productive. Video conferencing for example, can help to save travel time, whilst cutting down the cost of travel expenses, and email and telephone can certainly be highly effective for day-to-day conversations.”
Some 29% of local bosses polled claimed they were too busy for face-to-face meetings, while a further 29% cited a lack of resources.
Mr Hayes said: “It is important that SMEs in Yorkshire strive to become masters of all forms of communication in order to ensure they survive and thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
“Indeed, it could be a high-risk strategy for a business to completely neglect person-to-person contact.”
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